As the region’s only public research university, UMSL serves students who are in many ways nontraditional in their demographic make-up, their approach to higher education, and their educational needs. Meeting the needs of these nontraditional students while extending the expertise of the university to the community is the mission of the Division of Continuing Education.

Through Continuing Education, the university's colleges, schools, and centers administer a wide variety of credit courses, noncredit programs, and problem-oriented research for the benefit of the greater St. Louis metropolitan area and beyond. Programs are offered both on and off campus and online. Research, generally of an applied, urban-related nature, is designed to solve specific problems of client groups.

Arts and Sciences Continuing Education in the College of Arts and Sciences includes credit courses and noncredit programs from the college's departmental disciplines, including courses and workshops in archaeology, microcomputers, writing, languages, history, and social and physical sciences. Interdisciplinary teaching and research programs deal with such fields as social work, the humanities, women’s studies, and economics.

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Education provides credit courses, noncredit programs and curriculum consultations to teachers and schools.

The Microcomputer Program develops and teaches applied computer courses and offers a Chancellor's Certificates on the Computer, along with other certificate programs.

The Advanced Credit Program provides an enrichment experience for university-bound secondary students by offering freshman-level courses for college credit in selected high schools.

The Gateway Writing Project offers credit courses, noncredit programs, and a Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing for elementary, secondary, and college-level teachers. The Gateway Writing Project works with schools and districts to provide professional development programs that meet their individual needs.

Business Administration Continuing Education credit and noncredit programs through the College of Business Administration are offered in multiple areas, including financial planning; training, facilitation and coaching best practices; organizational development; team leadership; human resource management; broad survey courses; a variety of short, targeted offerings; and customized courses designed to meet individual client needs. Several certificate programs are offered as well as preparatory courses for professional certification programs in financial planning, human resources, and project management.

Education The College of Education, which is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for the preparation of teachers, counselors, and administrators, offers an array of graduate and doctoral programs in education. Through the University’s Division of Continuing Education, courses and programs are offered for both practitioners and those considering the field of education as a career. Many credit courses are available at sites throughout the metropolitan area, and professional development conferences and institutes are specially designed to help practitioners stay current in their fields of study. Programs also can be tailored to meet the specific needs of groups or organizations and can be offered on site or at other convenient places and times.

Transition to Teaching Program
The Transition to Teaching Program provides a special certification route for individuals who currently hold bachelor degrees and who want to enter the teaching profession. The program is job-embedded and individuals work full time in classrooms while taking their certification coursework.

Fine Arts and Communication The College of Fine Arts and Communication offers a variety of Continuing Education activities to the community. Four endowed professorships are focused on community outreach in the arts. The award-winning E. Desmond Lee Music Education Collaborative, and other collaborative activities undertaken by the College in conjunction with arts organizations in the greater St. Louis area, all contribute to the college mission. A range of credit and noncredit fine arts outreach programs are offered in partnership with the Saint Louis Symphony, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Saint Louis Black Repertory Company.

Graduate School and Public Policy Administration The Nonprofit Management and Leadership Program offers comprehensive education and training for professional staff, board members, and other leaders of nonprofit and voluntary organizations, as well as students and others wishing to explore a future in the field. Through Continuing Education, the program offers noncredit seminars, workshops, and conferences, both on and off campus.

Nursing The College of Nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis offers an RN to BSN program for Registered Nurses both on and off campus. Currently, the college offers the RN to BSN courses at St. Charles Community College, the SSM Health System at DePaul Health Center, and St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis. The MSN/FNP Program is offered at various outreach sites, depending on interest.

Optometry The University of Missouri‑St. Louis College of Optometry offers COPE approved advanced higher education programs that meet the requirements of state boards for individual relicensing. The dissemination of research data along with interactive panel programs of discussions of current issues are developed to advance clinical vision care.

Outreach Sites The Division of Continuing Education offers selected graduate and undergraduate credit courses at UMSL Lindbergh, a satellite center located at Lindbergh High School in south St. Louis County. Continuing Education also offers credit courses leading to degree completion at other metropolitan sites, including St. Charles Community College, Mineral Area College, Jefferson College, the St. Louis Community College South County Education and University Center, and St. Louis Community College at Wildwood.

Community Partnership Project
The Community Partnership Project develops initiatives that link University resources with the needs and priorities of residents and communities in the St. Louis region. The Community Partnership Project sponsors seminars and brown bag sessions, convenes teams to respond to key urban issues and provides support for faculty and students in connecting with community organizations.

Executive Leadership Consortium
The UMSL Executive Leadership consortium offers on-campus and off-campus credit and noncredit programs, contract programs, consultation, and action research through various campus units. These programs are offered in multiple areas, including leadership education training and advancement. A variety of short, targeted offerings and customized courses are designed to meet individual client needs. These programs and courses are developed on our own initiative and in response to expressed needs to best meet the needs of the lifelong learner.

In-house Training Specialized research and technical assistance and in‑house training programs are available to local businesses and organizations. With the help of expert faculty and staff consultants, Continuing Education is equipped to deliver specialized training on an in‑house basis.

J.C. Penney Conference Center
This large conference facility at UMSL houses a 435‑seat auditorium, as well as six large and four small conference rooms, designed to provide an excellent academic environment and maximum convenience for course participants. A complete conference staff provides administrative support for seminars and conferences, as well as coordination for special hosted programs each year.